One step fabrication of aligned carbon nanotubes using gas rectifier.

We report the one-step fabrication of aligned and high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) with controlled fluidic properties assisted by a gas rectifier. The gas rectifier consists of one-dimensional straight channels for regulating the Reynolds number of the reaction gas. Our computational fluid dynamics simulation reveals that the narrow channels of the gas rectifier provide steady and accelerated laminar flow of the reaction gas.

Soluble LR11 as a Novel Biomarker in Acute Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Intimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play an important role in the vasculitis caused by Kawasaki disease (KD). Lipoprotein receptor 11 (LR11) is a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, which is expressed markedly in intimal vascular SMCs and secreted in a soluble form (sLR11). sLR11 has been recently identified as a potential vascular lesion biomarker.

Skin thickness in neonates: Implications for intradermal vaccination.

Introduction: Intradermal (ID) injection is an alternate route that enhances vaccine immunogenicity and decreases vaccine dose. Regular immunization usually starts at age 2 months, and the limited immune capacity of neonates and young infants makes them vulnerable to infection. Successful ID vaccine delivery in this population requires knowledge of skin thickness.

Hyponatremia due to an excess of arginine vasopressin is common in children with febrile disease.

Hypotonic fluids are commonly used for treating hospitalized children. However, an excess of arginine vasopressin (AVP) with impaired free water excretion is thought to contribute to the development of hyponatremia in febrile children. The aim of this two-part study was to define the clinical relationship between hyponatremia and excess AVP.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA load and seroconversion in pediatric renal transplantation with tacrolimus immunosuppression.

EBV infection is one of major complications arising in pediatric patients who have undergone renal transplantation. A strong correlation between the grade of immunosuppression and the development of PTLD, one of the most severe EBV-associated diseases, has been recognized. In this study, we monitored the serologic profile in conjunction with peripheral blood EBV-DNA load of 32 children who underwent renal transplantation with tacrolimus as an immunosuppressant.

[Favorable course of collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy after kidney transplantation and questionnaire survey about the prognosis of collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy].

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy is a recently recognized entity that is characterized by massive accumulation of collagen fibrils in the mesangial and subendothelial areas, and an elevated serum level of procollagen III peptide (PIIIP). We report the first case of a collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy patient who received a kidney transplantation. She received the kidney transplantation at the age of 18 years and the post-operative course was uneventful with good renal function on immunosuppression, which consisted of methylprednisolone, tacrolimus and basiliximab.

The sialoadhesin (CD169) expressing a macrophage subset in human proliferative glomerulonephritis.

Background: Sialoadhesin (Sn; CD169) is a lectin-like receptor whose expression is restricted to subsets of tissue and inflammatory macrophages. We have previously identified accumulation of Sn+ macrophages as an important marker of disease progression versus remission in rat mesangial proliferative nephritis. The current study examined the significance of Sn+ macrophages in human proliferative glomerulonephritis.